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The Mayor and His Women
It bugged the hell out of me when I got an e-mailed press release from Police Chief Shirlene Anderson's office late on July 3 with this subject line: "Chief Shirlene …
EDITORIAL: McMillin Needs a Chief, Not a Badge
This editorial appears in the print edition this week. The mayor has requested that Council schedule a time at a special meeting today at 4 p.m. to confirm Sheriff McMillin …
Stop the Injustice of ‘Justice'
Nothing brings the inequality and foibles of our justice system into stark relief like an upcoming execution. As lawyers battle over last-minute efforts to save a human life, it's impossible …
For Those We Love
We buried my cousin Anita last week. She was a beautiful, saucy blonde who used to tag around her brother Martie and me back on Fork Road in Neshoba County. …
No More Sugarcoating
In the afterglow of the King Edward's re-opening and as we've prepared this "Most Intriguing" issue, I've been thinking a bit about Frank Melton. After spending the last several months …
Naked Party Animals Be Damned
"We all evolve." That's what Marcy Nessel told Maggie Neff about the Jewish Film Festival in this issue.
Jackson, Let's Shoot for the Top
As I write this Tuesday, I have no idea who will be the Democratic nominee for mayor when you read this. As always happens in Jackson and Mississippi, it's been …
For Them, the Brave
It used to be that murders of black people didn't matter. They still don't matter enough, but they get taken a lot more seriously than they did back when I …
[Ladd] The Prosperity of Living
Here in Jackson something really special is happening. People are joining hands to face down the naysayers and forge a new future for our city. We're putting our pennies together …
Media Fell Down on Melton Beat
The other night at Symphony at Sunset in Fondren, I was talking to a local newspaperman who told me about a lie Mayor Frank Melton had told publicly during his …
Of Anger and Alternative Endings
When I was a teenager, I decided I wanted to be a civil-rights attorney. I had visions of righting the kinds of wrongs done in my hometown of Philadelphia, Miss. …
Where The Streets Have No Name
I've flown to Chicago twice in a month to give writing workshops at Northwestern's journalism school, and each time I've been swept up in a wave of compassion and love. …
Doing It Our Way
My favorite James Meredith story involved the über contrarian sot Christopher Hitchens. Todd and I were asked to "entertain" Hitch during his visit to Millsaps College a few years back; …
Now We Begin Again
Like many Americans, the lead-up to the 2008 election was not the healthiest time period for me. It was an anxiety-filled time; at one point, I even woke up in …
We the Job Creators
When I was asked to go to the White House in early March to talk about business in Jackson, I didn't know what to expect. I just said "yes!" and …
14 Cents To The Promised Land
"We must not let anything interfere with the ability of the youth of this region to secure here in the region as good an education as is available anywhere in …
Vote ‘Yes' on the Tollison-Bell Amendment
The worst dirty trick we saw this last election wasn't a campaign ad, a robo-call or an "astroturf" campaign from a shadowy coalition of instigators and carpetbaggers. (Of course, all …
Peace, Prosperity and Tolerance
Every December now for about a decade, we have asked the Jackson Free Press staff members to sign hundreds of holiday greeting cards that we send to freelancers, advertising clients, …
When the Going Gets Tough
No doubt about it, these are scary economic times. Many people are losing jobs, some businesses are closing, consumers are holding tight to their dollars.
Jackson, We Still Have A Problem
It's been a tough week or so over at Frank Melton's house. First, we broke the news online on Dec. 4 that the young man he is accused of mentoring …
